Democratic leaders secured the last two votes to move ahead on historic health care legislation, clearing the way for a Saturday night showdown on President Barack Obama's top domestic initiative. In long-awaited speeches, centrist Sens. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana said they would stand with their party and vote "yes" on the crucial test vote despite deep reservations with elements of the 2,074-page bill to remake the nation's health care system.

"The truth is this issue is very complex. There is no easy fix and it's imperative that we build on what's already working in health care in America," Lincoln told her Senate colleagues. Hours earlier, Landrieu had delivered her news. The two represent votes 59 and 60 for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. (pictured), who needs that many in the 100-member Senate to go forward. The Senate's 40 Republicans are unanimously opposed.

The biggest horror show in movie theaters right now is not on screens but in the tubs of popcorn resting in audience members' laps, if you ask one consumer advocate. Snacking on a medium popcorn and soda at one of Regal Entertainment Group's (RGC) cinemas is the nutritional equivalent of eating three McDonald's (MCD) Quarter Pounders slathered with 12 pats of butter, says the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

The twist in the plot? Both Regal and AMC -- the nation's No. 1 and No. 2 theater chains -- understate the calories in their popcorn servings by big amounts, according to laboratory analyses commissioned by the nonprofit. Regal, for example, indicates its medium popcorn is 720 calories, while its large is 960 calories, the center says. But both medium and large sizes end up containing about 1,200 calories, the Washington, D.C. outfit says. And because the kernels are popped in coconut oil, they contain 60 grams of saturated fat -- three times the daily recommended allowance, the group adds. "You might think you're getting Bambi, but you're really getting Godzilla," says Jayne Hurley, the center's senior nutritionist.

If you've checked the balance on your 401(k) lately, you're likely breathing a mini sign of relief as the Dow's bounce back above 10,000 helps replenish some losses suffered during the recession.

But as stocks remain volatile and the recession hampers retirement planning for millions, we sought advice from Christine Marcks, CEO of Prudential Retirement, the retirement arm of financial services giant Prudential Financial.

In our conversation, Marcks outlines a game plan for laid off workers and describes new tools available for today's pre-retirees. Despite what some published reports say, the 401(k) is still very relevant, Marcks adds.

Oprah Winfrey is a smart cookie. I am guessing she knows all too well that you can make more money in cable than you can on a TV network. If it's like other cable networks, her new Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), which she co-owns with Discovery Communications (DISCA), will be much more profitable than the TV networks.

And her departure from her popular show will cost those TV networks big money. How much? Show broadcaster, Walt Disney's (DIS) ABC, will lose millions in ad revenues, according to the New York Times. CBS Corp. (CBS), which owns Oprah's syndication rights, will similarly lose millions.

Hershey (HSY) is an odd sort of company. Its governance is not in the hands of its board of directors. A charity called the Hershey Trust, established in 1894, effectively decides how the confectionery company is run and who will run it. Hershey has its own board, but in some ways it is close to a symbolic body set up to satisfy U.S. Securities and Exchange regulations.

The trust is starting to push the maker of Hershey's Kisses and Reese's peanut butter cups to make a bid for United Kingdom-based candy and chocolates giant Cadbury (CBY). Kraft (KFT) has already made an offer of $16.5 billion, which Cadbury says is inadequate. According to an exclusive report in The Wall Street Journal, "The charitable trust that controls Hershey Co. is pushing the chocolate giant to launch a rival, $17 billion bid for Cadbury PLC that would be bigger and include more cash than what Kraft Foods Inc. has offered."

Guy Fieri looks like a rock star and talks like one. Now, the chef is touring like one too.

The Food Network star, who burst on the scene in 2006 when he won the Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. (SNI) cable channel's competition for new culinary talent, is taking his pots and pans on the road. He even has an "opening act" Australian flair bartender Hayden Wood.

"I can do demos standing on my head," Fieri told DailyFinance in an interview, insisting that he is not acting either on TV or the stage. "I don't know whether I would be such a good actor...I am always having a good time."

Recent revelations about alleged insider trading at hedge funds make me wonder if the average investor has a fair shot at investing in stocks. The most recent story pertains to a $15 billion hedge fund that closed back in May.

And last month, the $3.7 billion Galleon hedge fund was shuttered after its founder was arrested with many others. I think it's great the SEC is starting to focus on the problem. I hope the fear of getting caught will stop insider trading by hedge funds altogether.

Perhaps Ringo Starr should attend Saturday night's start to the debate over the health care reform bill in the Senate. After all, it was Starr who first uttered the malapropism that later became a hit song (and movie) by The Beatles -- A Hard Day's Night. Saturday evening may shape up to be just that in the upper house of Congress.

For clues regarding the bill's destiny, look for key, early maneuvering. Bill author Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada, has to retain all 60 members of the Democratic Conference (58 Democrats, two Independents) to pass a procedural vote. If even one conference member strays -- and can't be persuaded to change the vote -- the health care reform bill won't even make it to the Senate floor for debate.

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Last month the Museum of American Finance on Wall Street, which collects all manner of physical financial artifacts ranging from ticker tape to board games like "Rich Uncle: The Stock Market Game," launched a wiki with hopes of gathering financial tales, too.

But the site has attracted just one main contributor since it went live in October. The featured personal story was posted by "Ninja Dad," a finance executive who writes about the pre-credit crisis days of freewheeling loans to homebuyers like his daughter with no income, no job or assets, (aka the NINJA borrower).

Given that the nation's overall unemployment rate rose to its highest level in decades in October, it's perhaps not surprising that a majority of states reported higher numbers of joblessness last month compared to September, according to fresh data released Friday from the U.S. Department of Labor. In 13 states the rate topped the national average of 10.2%, leaving many to wonder when the economic recovery that is reportedly underway will finally result in more jobs.

Overall joblessness rose in 29 states and the District of Columbia last month, while the rate fell in 13 states, according to the survey. In September, 23 states and Washington D.C. reported that their unemployment rates increased, and 14 states had jobless rates above the national average.